designing a thematic curriculum, george faux, shireland, october 2013
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DESIGNING A THEMATIC BASED CURRICULUM
October 2013George Faux
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THIS SESSION
• The basics of our curriculum.
• The really practical steps to set up a similar system:
• Objectives• What subjects?• Profile of Hours• Which Teachers?• Assessment• Themes• Rigour
• What we have learned five years on.
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A SLIDE OF HISTORY
• Where we were:
• Lowest APS of any Academy in the country. (20.4)
• Fischer Family trust predictions of 29% 5A*-CEM
• 1 Letter that catalysed change.
• We knew that only truly radical change would alter our students achievement.
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OBJECTIVES
Ethos and Standards
Safe and Secure
Rapid Literacy and Numeracy
Progress
Granular Achievement
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OUTCOMES
Single Teacher
Physical Space
More Words Read and Written
Competency Framework
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FULLY INTEGRATED CURRICULUM
English
Mathematics
Science
History
Geography
RE
PD
PE
DT
Art
Dance
Music
Drama
Languages
ICT
L4L
Science
PE
DT
Art
Music
6 Teachers
Year 719 hours a week
Year 813 hours a week
Year 99 hours a week
“My daughter is making fantastic progress in lessons.”
“The base has made my son feel really safe and happy”
The one teacher model means staff can really know their 15 students.
This allows for a fantastic degree of differentiation.
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STRUCTURES
• Tutors get to really know the students.
• The amount of effective feedback is greatly increased.
• Students have their own wing of the building, rooms and lunchtimes.
• Lots of group work and welfare focus.
• High levels of supportive technology.
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LITERACY FOR LIFE (L4L)
5 Year, radical plan to fundamentally change the chances of our students.
Competency based curriculum delivering skills not knowledge, skills that allow students to improve rapidly.
Ten areas of focus, dealing holistically with all areas of student development.
Combined with a pastoral model which helps students to feel safe and secure and allows parents a real relationship.
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SUBJECTS
• Everything except areas which require practical facilities.
• Learning to learn is paramount.
• Amalgamated through themes but with all of the essential skills present.
• In this model skills are more important than content.
• Requires constant communication and CPD.
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THEMESThemes run for between 2-4 weeks. This can involve anything up to 70+ hours of work on a topic.
There is a focus on quality outcomes. Such as making a film or other large projects.
Balance is the key to thematic development.
A “Big Write” at the end of every theme.
Students write and read twice as much as they previously used to.
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BESPOKE TRACKING SYSTEM
• Expected Progress• Threshold Assessment
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CONTINUUM OF LEARNING
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RESOURCED
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TEACHERS
• Some existing staff, some middle and primary. Most important is a blend of skills.
• Staff have extra pastoral and academic responsibilities.
• Staff are all given an allowance.
• Staff have a reduced timetable.
• A subject to liaise with• A literacy to champion for coverage.
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RIGOUR
• Expected progress thresholds have been created for the different competencies based on students ability when they come in.
• Regular SAT and threshold examinations are held at the end of each year.
• Joint planning sessions to establish consistency.
• Department moderation to validate outcomes.
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RADICAL CHANGE
• The Academy collapses the curriculum for all students one day a week and for a week every Half Term. Known as Achievement Weeks and Focus Days.
• This is applicable for all students, including KS4 and KS5 and rotates round the different days.
• For years 7, 8 and 9 these are often ‘Drive Workshops”, mixed year taught to improve students who have fallen behind on self diagnosed competencies.
• There are many benefits: in-depth learning, controlled assessments, trips and experiences, staff training.
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PRACTICAL ADVICE
• Implementation takes time, ideally you need a good few months of lead in.
• Half measures just didn’t cut it - bold steps gave the whole project the credibility it needed.
• Staff need plenty of planning time in this model.